If you look in the mirror and hardly recognize your face anymore, or are just tired of looking tired, a facelift might be the thing that helps reawaken your face and spirit.
But there are many different methods and not everyone is a suitable candidate for each one.
Here is an overview of some of the more popular and commonly performed procedures.
Traditional Face Lift: This has been around for many years and provides some of the most dramatic results.
The surgeon creates incisions across the hairline and downwards behind the ears.
The muscle below will then be tightened and any excess skin is cut away.
What remains will be re-draped to better suit your look and then sewn tightly back into place.
The result is elimination of deep furrows such as the ones that run horizontally across the forehead, and overall smoother feel with more defined features.
Traditional Skin-Only method: For those looking for some simple tightening and who prefer not to take the risks associated with corrected the underlying facial muscles; a traditional procedure can also be skin-only.
That means the surgeon will simply create incisions along the hairline and once the skin has been freed from the tissue below, the hanging skin is excised and the rest is draped tightly.
The results are generally not as dramatic and tend not to last as long because the derma will eventually become loose again without the extra support of tighter muscles.
Brow or Temporal Lift: This is a kind of modified or mini procedure that targets only the eye area of the face and not the neck or mid portion like the traditional procedure does.
A brow treatment is a more intensive method, while a temporal one involves minor incisions above the eyes and then the skin is tightened.
These are both good options for patients whose main problem is with drooping, tired eyes or sagging brows.
Endoscopic Face Lift: This is sometimes popularly referred to as the "scar-less procedure" however, that is a misleading nickname.
Endoscopy still involves incisions, although they will be a great deal smaller and generally practically invisible after surgery.
Many surgeons and patients prefer this type of treatment because it can provide great results with fewer risks.
An endoscope, which is a camera attached to a long tube, is inserted into the tiny incisions around the hairline.
The surgeon then tightens the muscle by a TV monitor so he has greater control over the method and causes less tissue trauma.
Neck Lift: As people age, they often develop a "turkey" neck that hangs down from below their chin, making them appear older and less attractive.
It is usually a combination of tightening as well as liposuction to achieve the desired results.
If you'd like to learn about more methods or need some more information, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in facelifts.
But there are many different methods and not everyone is a suitable candidate for each one.
Here is an overview of some of the more popular and commonly performed procedures.
Traditional Face Lift: This has been around for many years and provides some of the most dramatic results.
The surgeon creates incisions across the hairline and downwards behind the ears.
The muscle below will then be tightened and any excess skin is cut away.
What remains will be re-draped to better suit your look and then sewn tightly back into place.
The result is elimination of deep furrows such as the ones that run horizontally across the forehead, and overall smoother feel with more defined features.
Traditional Skin-Only method: For those looking for some simple tightening and who prefer not to take the risks associated with corrected the underlying facial muscles; a traditional procedure can also be skin-only.
That means the surgeon will simply create incisions along the hairline and once the skin has been freed from the tissue below, the hanging skin is excised and the rest is draped tightly.
The results are generally not as dramatic and tend not to last as long because the derma will eventually become loose again without the extra support of tighter muscles.
Brow or Temporal Lift: This is a kind of modified or mini procedure that targets only the eye area of the face and not the neck or mid portion like the traditional procedure does.
A brow treatment is a more intensive method, while a temporal one involves minor incisions above the eyes and then the skin is tightened.
These are both good options for patients whose main problem is with drooping, tired eyes or sagging brows.
Endoscopic Face Lift: This is sometimes popularly referred to as the "scar-less procedure" however, that is a misleading nickname.
Endoscopy still involves incisions, although they will be a great deal smaller and generally practically invisible after surgery.
Many surgeons and patients prefer this type of treatment because it can provide great results with fewer risks.
An endoscope, which is a camera attached to a long tube, is inserted into the tiny incisions around the hairline.
The surgeon then tightens the muscle by a TV monitor so he has greater control over the method and causes less tissue trauma.
Neck Lift: As people age, they often develop a "turkey" neck that hangs down from below their chin, making them appear older and less attractive.
It is usually a combination of tightening as well as liposuction to achieve the desired results.
If you'd like to learn about more methods or need some more information, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in facelifts.